While following the review and discussion of the E1DA 9038S USB DAC/headphone amp, I began to consider getting into headphones (balanced over-ear) that I could use with either an E1DA or my Topping DX7s.
Resident expert Solderdude laid out the conditions for balanced to be preferred over single-ended 'phones.
Do any of you reading this have balanced headphones and/or digital audio players (DAPs) that you can recommend?
Resident expert Solderdude laid out the conditions for balanced to be preferred over single-ended 'phones.
However, using Google and Amazon to try to find "balanced" over-ear headphones and digital audio players (DAPs) is one of the most frustrating searches I have ever done and I finally gave up. Amazon, other online resellers, and even reviews at places like HeadFi do not clearly note if DAPs and headphones are balanced or single-ended.When balanced makes sense:
- You need more voltage swing and only a limited voltage supply is available - as with USB stick-type DAC/Amps
- When the headphone in question has a crappy single ended cable with a relatively high resistance of a (common for L and R) return wire in relation to the impedance of the headphone.
Do any of you reading this have balanced headphones and/or digital audio players (DAPs) that you can recommend?